By Mark Young: I’ll admit it, it’s getting to me, hype jobs, cherry pickers and tweeters. We’re inundated with boxers who aren’t fighting each other, it’s way beyond ridiculous, there’s a clear drop in professionalism in boxing with a leaning towards wrestling style showboating. You are far more likely to hear about who a boxer intends to fight than who a boxer is going to fight, there are some who feel the need to keep the world posted on what dvd they intend to watch after a hard day talking to the media, but not that many who are chomping at the bit like Mr T was in Rocky III.
The biggest culprit in boxing for talking the talk is most definitely Amir Khan, while his resume has more padding than Eddie Murphy’s fat suits in the Klumps that’s not my biggest problem with him, the thing I find most frustrating is his inability to acknowledge that there are fights he has no intention of making happen. There’s a difference between Khan and the other guys out there calling other guys out. Khan can get any fight he wants, or so you would think. Khan has Roach in his corner holding his world title, Oscar brokering the deals and HBO punching the lot out through their PPV network, so why is he constantly talking?.
Khan is a high risk fighter, and I’m using him as an example here, he’s not the only one out there and this isn’t an all out attack on Khan, it’s merely a case of him being the prime example, because you see even hype jobs need to have some of the talent required to be a great if they’re to be marketable. Khan has speed, he’s got a blistering attack when he’s in the ring with the right guy and when he’s not worried about taking a shot on that questionable chin you could be convinced he’s the future of boxing. There are only one or two problems, like the glass jaw, the poor defence and the lack of ring savvy.
What do you do then if you are a big promotions company who are in a tight knit deal with a PPV network and you need to keep the wheels in motion?, you need to gloss over a few technicalities and make sure your guy doesn’t get exposed in any hurry, especially if you’ve contacted him to a multi fight deal!, it’s no good being stuck with a guy who’s just been knocked out cold and nobody wants to see fight, he’s dead weight, so the trick is to keep your guy fighting and profitable without getting him knocked out.
So who’s your guy going to fight? He can’t fight too many tomato cans and you can’t risk him against too many dangerous opponents because your bank manager’s not going to wear that either! You’re going to need some marquee names, ideally washed up but still a big draw, maybe having one last swan song too many but good enough to get the PPV’s moving. If you can’t get a washed up Marquee name, try and get something going with the lightest hitter in your division with a title, that will sell and while you might go to the cards you’re not going to the canvass. If you want to avoid taking too much heat but you want a live big name, how about bringing up a fighter from the division below you?, he’ll have to bloat up for a pay day and will still come into the ring a considerable amount smaller on fight night, while you get to claim he’s in his prime, it worked for Hopkins against Pavlik!. There are sacks full of chestnuts when it comes to padding your guys resume. These are just a few.
Now everything is going well, you’re the ABC belt champ and virtually running things, yes you’re rubbing shoulders with the top guys in your division, the hardcore boxing fans are calling you a phoney, but in general you seem to be getting away with it, the armchair fans are happy with the tomato cans you’re knocking over and then along comes your pesky mandatory!, he’s keen, he’s mean and luckily for you he’s not getting seen, which gives you 12 months before you’re going to have to acknowledge him publicly. When push comes to shove by entering negotiations it will make you look interested, he’s going to be keen and until you burn him so he’s not going to bad mouth you first time, you get to look keen while even your opponent tells the world you’re up for it, then you pull out. It could be a back injury or last minute technicalities regarding the contracts etc…. or if you feel vindictive, tell the world he’s trying to haul you over the coals money wise!, he’s greedy and wants too much, he’s forced you to cancel and you get to tell the world you’re gutted. You’ve bought 3 fight free months, time to squeeze in a tomato can who can lock you up in a contract and hopefully send your broke mandatory looking for some turn over cash. You may buy yourself 18 months of mandatory free fighting if you do this just right.
Your 18 months are up, the dirty low life’s hit you up for purse bids and you now have to fight him, the armchair fans are listening to the hardcore guys they called haters and you might get your belt unbuckled and taken away publicly so your promoter’s decided it’s time to throw you into the ring with a guy who has the potential to rip your head off, yes you should by rights beat him, you are a legit champ aren’t you?, but it’s still tight and you’re not quite sure yourself, you seem slightly more subdued than that time you fought the guy who punches like a 12 year old girl. Luckily for you, you are the champ that buys you your venue, your ref and 3 guys who know what side of the ring their pay cheque is coming from. All you have to do is not get knocked out! Heck, you can even lose 7 or 8 rounds; ask Jean Pascal or Mike Jones!
You did it, you’re still the champ! You look like King Kong punched you in the head, but you held on, it’s all over, and your mandatory is never getting a rematch in a million years, certainly not in his country anyway! You proved your point!, the ref did his job and just moved up a notch on the speed dial on your phone, the judges will all get an invite to the Christmas party and you have silenced your critics by scraping through by the skin of your teeth. You even have starry eyed fans out there talking about your entry into the hall of fame.
So what comes next?
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